Days of our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday and his son, Teddy, stop by to chat with Michael Fairman on the red carpet at the 44th Annual Daytime Emmys. Ken talks about: the excitement of new head writer Ron Carlivati’s material which begins to air later this summer, his Emmy win for music composition at the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and more.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Lucas Says Goodbye To Salem, While Julie Recalls Coming Back To Town

December 11, 2018

In a very touching episode of Days of our Lives, Tuesday brought with it an emotional goodbye from exiting fan favorite Bryan Dattilo (Lucas), and the soap paying homage to Susan Seaforth Hayes’ 50th anniversary to the day as Julie.

It begins in Horton Town Square where Julie next to the plaque dedicated to her grandparents, Tom and Alice Horton, has a flash back to phone call with Tom five decades ago.

Meanwhile, now broken up with Chloe, and ready to leave Salem to be with his daughter, Allie, Lucas tells Will he is leaving and that he is happy Will and Sonny found their way back to each other. The two hug it out, and tell each other how proud they are of one another. Next, Lucas goes to visit his mother, Kate. In a touching exchange played by Dattilo and Lauren Koslow, viewers were treated to Kate’s pain of the mistakes she made as a mother, and Lucas being forgiving of her.

At Doug’s Place, Julie and Abigail try to figure out how to bring down Stefan and Gabi. Julie promises to not tell anyone that Abigail is not mentally ill saying. “Your secret is safe with me.” Next, Chloe happens upon the scene and Julie quickly sees Chloe break down in tears. She then reveals to Julie, that she and Lucas broke up. Julie gives Chloe a tissue and some words of advice – the gospel according to Julie – that they were not meant to be, and that Chloe will find true love. After all, after Julie’s other failed relationships, once she was with Doug she found her soulmate, so she knows it can happen.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Julie flashes back to speaking with Alice when she worries that Tom would not want her to return to Salem. For Julie had been in San Francisco, and where she brings up putting her son up for adoption, but how she later raised him and how happy that Eli is her grandson. She even recalls when JJ got her and other ladies in Salem accidentally high on pot-filled donuts!

When Lucas turns up at the Horton’s everyone is saddened and shocked that he has decided to depart Salem Julie says Salem will always be his home. JJ hands Lucas his ornament now, breaking the Christmas tradition early. Lucas hangs his ornament in another emotional moment.

Next, we see Lucas waiting for a taxi, with his suitcases at Horton Town Square, He gazes at the Tom and Alice dedication plaque and says, “I’ll be back. someday.” Hankies!

Alone now with Julie, Doug brings out a cake celebrating how it is 50 years since Julie returned to Salem permanently. Cue the montage … as Doug’s voice is heard singing “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”, one of the duo’s signature songs, as clips of their love affair played throughout. We fade to black.

DAYS honored Susan Hayes and gave Brytan Dattilo some heart-tugging moments as he left the canvas as the beloved Lucas. So what did you think of the episode? Sad to see Bryan exit? Happy to see the show wrote in a way to honor Susan’s 50th as Julie? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

If you caught this week’s episodes of Days of our Lives, you know that Ted Laurent (Gilles Marini) has resurfaced in Salem and had asked Hope (Kristian Alfonso) for protection from Stefan DiMera, who was responsible for his disappearance in exchange for information on Ben Weston (Rob Scott Wilson).

Now in the latest episode of Inside Salem: Days of our Lives Podcast, actor Gilles Marini chats it up with host, Michael Fairman on what to expect as Ted’s story brings with it many twists and turns; including a potential love triangle.

Marini reveals what he thinks Ted’s weakness ia when the guy has not previously been on the up and up, plus his thoughts on working with three of his co-stars and their characters: Lauren Koslow’s Kate, Kristian Alfonso’s Hope, and Greg Rikaart’s Leo, whom he has shared up to now most of his screen-time.

The talented actor who hails from France, also talks on some other highlights in his career, including one of his big breaks on the beloved ABC drama, Brothers & Sisters working opposite Rachel Griffiths, and a host of award-winning actors, including Sally Field, and of course, his time on Dancing with the Stars where he became one of the most popular celebrity contestants on the series of all-time.

Later, in the podcast’s dressing room segment, Eric Martsolf (Brady) welcomes Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe) into his digs at DAYS, and then two tease some upcoming #Broe moments.

Check out this excerpt from NBC of Gilles interview below. Then, make sure to head over to NBC.com to listen to the episode currently streaming there, and on Monday, looks for this episode to be available on all pod platforms, including iTunes for download.